Overview & Reviews

Lexus has earned a well-deserved reputation for turning out utterly refined luxury vehicles. The hallmarks of this brand are a quiet, well-crafted cabin, a plush ride and commendable performance from powerful, nearly silent engines.

Lexus began out of a desire by parent company Toyota to create a world-class luxury car brand. Groundwork for Lexus was laid in the mid-1980s, when the company began tapping U.S. focus groups in an attempt to define design concepts best suited for American consumers. Hundreds of prototypes were built and tested on Germany's autobahn and on U.S. roads.

In early 1989, the company unveiled its first two models (which would debut for the 1990 model year) -- the entry-level ES 250 sedan and the flagship LS 400 sedan. The LS 400 was lauded by both journalists and consumers alike for offering a stellar luxury-car experience, with a remarkably silent cabin, superb build quality and a refined V8 engine. At the same time, the LS was priced considerably lower than smaller, lesser-equipped, six-cylinder European rival luxury sedans.

By the early 1990s, the Lexus brand was expanded to other markets, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. More models were added to the lineup, including the SC 300 and SC 400 coupes and the brand's first luxury performance sedan, the GS 300. By decade's end, the company had added SUVs (in the form of the LX 450/LX 470 and RX 300) and had sold more than a million vehicles in the U.S.

The first decade of the 2000s saw Lexus proving itself a trend setter with the launch of many hybrid-powered versions of its vehicles such as the RX 400h and the GS 450h. And by 2011, Lexus even introduced a world-class supercar, the LFA.

In the years since its inception, the Lexus brand has distinguished itself time and again in quality and reliability surveys. The brand's vehicles may not offer as much passion as some Teutonic rivals, but for drivers interested in vehicles that emphasize quality, dependability and comfort, the Lexus marque is hard to beat.

User Reviews:

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  Got to Luv it - 2002 Lexus SC 430
  By Liza3143 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Real fun to drive car

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  Best of all luxury SUV - 2008 Lexus GX 470
  By Sam - May 9 - 5:10 pm

  Of all the vehicles I have owned, this must be the best one suited for the whole family. Used to drive an Infiniti Q45 that was an excellent vehicle but not enough room, my wife drives a Honda Pilot, which I dread to drive because of intolerable road noise. The GX470 is the end result of my hours of research and test drives. It is like driving in the quiet comfort and luxury of my previous Q45, with the roominess of the Honda Pilot.

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  great car - 2004 Lexus IS 300
  By sam song - May 6 - 10:00 am

  very good experience. beautiful inside and out.

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  Snow Performance - 2007 Lexus ES 350
  By Clarence - May 6 - 1:23 am

  Definitely not a snow car. First real snow test. Very poor performance. Perhaps snow tires would make difference.

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  A sportier 3 series for $10 grand less - 2002 Lexus IS 300
  By Zeus - May 4 - 10:00 am

  The car is a pleasure to drive. Love the manuel stick. Engine revs nicely and steering is laser sharp. Feels well put together and trust that it will easily last 10 years. An excellent buy.

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  Fun - 2001 Lexus IS 300
  By robarakira - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Perfect for midlife crisis.

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  One good SUV - 1999 Lexus RX 300
  By RX - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable(U know just like Lexus sedan), very stable on hwy. Very reliable, no visit to the dealer for the recall or problem. Very usefull for cargo.

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  Great car but watch out for rattles.... - 2002 Lexus ES 300
  By RSinTx - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my ES300 for about 2 months now. I love it except for the fact that I had to take it back 6 time to get rid of a rattle comming from the passenger door. (After sending out a factory engineer, it was determined that the car needed re-welding.)While they were at it, Lexus also got rid of a couple other rattles. Rattles notwithstanding, however, this is truly a wonderful car to drive.

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  Luxury performance and ride - 2015 Lexus RX 350
  By Alan Farris - May 3 - 3:19 am

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  Smooth As Silk - 2008 Lexus LS 460
  By Topsales - May 3 - 12:40 am

  I had a 2001 LS430 which I loved, but it was time to change, so I went out to drive a couple of vehicles. After driving and reviewing a couple of other vehicle options, none could compare with the quality and value for the price of the 2008 LS460. It drives smoother, better and faster than the LS430. The interior is quieter than any car I have ever been in.